Possible bodywork damage. Advice pls.
Discussion
That is just evidence of a bump along the way at some point. Not heavy, just enough to crack the paint and gel coat. There are probably very few cars out there with completely original paint. use at as a bargaining tool, a few hundred pounds off to cover some nice new paint!
Actually, looking at the first picture, there's a couple of dimples that are evidence that its been painted before.
Actually, looking at the first picture, there's a couple of dimples that are evidence that its been painted before.
shake n bake said:
That is just evidence of a bump along the way at some point. Not heavy, just enough to crack the paint and gel coat. There are probably very few cars out there with completely original paint. use at as a bargaining tool, a few hundred pounds off to cover some nice new paint!
Actually, looking at the first picture, there's a couple of dimples that are evidence that its been painted before.
Will take a bit more than a bit of filler and a splash of paint to fix it - needs doing properly. Actually, looking at the first picture, there's a couple of dimples that are evidence that its been painted before.
caduceus said:
Fastpedeller said:
Will take a bit more than a bit of filler and a splash of paint to fix it - needs doing properly.
Could you elaborate please kind sir? I'm a noob when it comes to bodywork. I thought it'd just need rubbing down to the grp, filling, smoothing and then paint... 
So it's not necessarily a simple rub down and blow over.
Spray on exhaust suggests real amateur fix. Which begs the question of how much else has been fixed on a shoestring.
If the shell has significant damage then you may be looking at a new shell, or part thereof. Budget big.
I would suggest you get it checked out by the local dealer. They may charge you for this, but nothing like what it will cost to put right. A couple of hunded quid at this stage would be money well spent.
Rich
If the shell has significant damage then you may be looking at a new shell, or part thereof. Budget big.
I would suggest you get it checked out by the local dealer. They may charge you for this, but nothing like what it will cost to put right. A couple of hunded quid at this stage would be money well spent.
Rich
It would need the surface grinding where the cracks are, and re-matting, preferably gel-coating (rather than filling), and then repaint. I'd suggest that unless you're doing it yourself (I guess not), then it would cost a LOT of money to get someone else to do it properly - Beware the 'we know what we are doing' guys who will give a price and then just fill and spray... It won't be good.
As a guide I bought a small (ok it was cheap) GRP trailer with cracks on the body, and it has taken me a huge number of hours to get it anywhere near fixed - If I'd paid someone to do it I'd be looking at many hundreds. Much cheaper to get a good one in the first place.
As a guide I bought a small (ok it was cheap) GRP trailer with cracks on the body, and it has taken me a huge number of hours to get it anywhere near fixed - If I'd paid someone to do it I'd be looking at many hundreds. Much cheaper to get a good one in the first place.
caduceus said:
This car is a '97 4.5.
What would you call project money for this car in its condition? Interior leather is shot, but carpets ok. Engine does run. Some electrical issues. Outriggers appear ok. Fractured n/s header. Hood is faded. Water ingress in passenger footwell, also boot. Rear HAS seen paint (overspray on exhausts).Not driven the car yet. Nor has it been up on a ramp.
Service history A4 folder is patchy. Awaiting leather bound service history booklet to see if it's any better.
Best guess....2k to 3k. It will cost you double that figure just to sort all the bodywork problems out and paint. At least 2k to sort out the interior.What would you call project money for this car in its condition? Interior leather is shot, but carpets ok. Engine does run. Some electrical issues. Outriggers appear ok. Fractured n/s header. Hood is faded. Water ingress in passenger footwell, also boot. Rear HAS seen paint (overspray on exhausts).Not driven the car yet. Nor has it been up on a ramp.
Service history A4 folder is patchy. Awaiting leather bound service history booklet to see if it's any better.
Electrical issues....could be simple but then it could get expensive....immobiliser issues, hot start problems,these cars need to be driven, the longer they are stood for the more problems you will have.
THE CHASSIS OUTRIGGERS WILL BE SHOT.....most chims will need this doing sooner or later, another 1.5k to 2k there as a minimum.
Engine runs...but what like! Whats the mileage? Whats the camshaft like?
Suspension bushes and drivetrain? All can get expensive if there are any problems.
Most of us have all, or some of the above during a period of ownership. Read this forum and you will see what i mean.....BUT.....to have all this work to do from day one, on a car that has possibly had crash damage[looking at your pics]i would leave well alone.
Shall i continue or do you really want to hear what you should do................RUN AWAY.....DONT WALK AWAY.
Edited by TJC46 on Monday 11th November 12:15
Fastpedeller said:
It would need the surface grinding where the cracks are, and re-matting, preferably gel-coating (rather than filling), and then repaint. I'd suggest that unless you're doing it yourself (I guess not), then it would cost a LOT of money to get someone else to do it properly - Beware the 'we know what we are doing' guys who will give a price and then just fill and spray... It won't be good.
As a guide I bought a small (ok it was cheap) GRP trailer with cracks on the body, and it has taken me a huge number of hours to get it anywhere near fixed - If I'd paid someone to do it I'd be looking at many hundreds. Much cheaper to get a good one in the first place.
As a guide I bought a small (ok it was cheap) GRP trailer with cracks on the body, and it has taken me a huge number of hours to get it anywhere near fixed - If I'd paid someone to do it I'd be looking at many hundreds. Much cheaper to get a good one in the first place.
agree with all of that and to do it properly/professionally you're looking in the low thousands imo.So yes unless it's less than £4k and otherwise tidy I'd be walking.
V8 GRF said:
Fastpedeller said:
It would need the surface grinding where the cracks are, and re-matting, preferably gel-coating (rather than filling), and then repaint. I'd suggest that unless you're doing it yourself (I guess not), then it would cost a LOT of money to get someone else to do it properly - Beware the 'we know what we are doing' guys who will give a price and then just fill and spray... It won't be good.
As a guide I bought a small (ok it was cheap) GRP trailer with cracks on the body, and it has taken me a huge number of hours to get it anywhere near fixed - If I'd paid someone to do it I'd be looking at many hundreds. Much cheaper to get a good one in the first place.
As a guide I bought a small (ok it was cheap) GRP trailer with cracks on the body, and it has taken me a huge number of hours to get it anywhere near fixed - If I'd paid someone to do it I'd be looking at many hundreds. Much cheaper to get a good one in the first place.
agree with all of that and to do it properly/professionally you're looking in the low thousands imo.So yes unless it's less than £4k and otherwise tidy I'd be walking.
It's hard to assess the extent of the damage but from what you can see to do it your self you'd probably and up glassing one side, repairing the other side then grinding off the first side and possibly reglassing. A professional job is probably looking at a quarter body or what ever you can buy off the shelf.
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